Geography

Origin of Name

Arkoe was founded on September 15, 1874 by Perry H. Talbott, an Ohio native, a prominent physician, Missouri legislator, and later an owner of the Greenback Standard newspaper, which Dr. Talbott founded and operated following his change in political allegiance from the Democratic Party to the Greenback Party. Arkoe was co-founded with Scott K. Snively, a native of Pennsylvania, who also served as a Missouri legislator, became a respected merchant, and successful rancher after moving to Missouri. They donated the land upon which the town was built. The town was incorporated on April 6, 1906. The first five-member board was appointed at that time. According to the bylaws of the town, each board member must be at least 21 years of age, they must own property within the town's legal limits, reside on that property for a minimum of one year prior to the election in which they are running, and their county taxes must not be in arrears at the time of their election nor during the term of their office. All land within Arkoe is privately held.[7][8]

Dr. Talbott, his wife Belle, and their children lived west of the town in a large two-story home, which Dr. Talbott called "Seven Gables" after the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel. The home overlooked the One Hundred and Two River, which borders the town on the east. Dr. Talbott chose the town's name from the novel The Life and Adventures of Peter Wilkins, published by Robert Paltock in England in 1759. It was his only book. Paltock's fictional Indians can fly, taking off and landing on suitable stretches of sandy ground in the middle of placid bodies of water. He named the locations 'arkoes' in the book.

The Town's History

Arkoe was founded along the original route of the Platte Country Railroad, which reorganized in 1867 as the Missouri Valley Railroad, only to be acquired in March 1870 by the Kansas City, St. Joseph, and Council Bluffs Railroad (KC, SJ, & CB). In the summer of 1870, the KC, SJ, and CB Railroad consolidated with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q) Railroad and the line became known thereafter as the "Burlington Route." It remained in operation until 1959.

At the height of its prosperity, Arkoe had 129 residents. It was home to the Arkoe State Bank, a Methodist and a Christian church, a livery, three resident blacksmiths, a buggy maker, a dressmaker, a grain dump, a railroad depot, a stockyard, three merchants, two flour mills, four physicians, a restaurant, a dance hall, a hotel, a lumberyard, and several butcher shops. Arkoe's first school was a one-room schoolhouse located at the corner of Talbott and Second Street. Funds were later collected for a new two-room school house which was built at the west end of Main Street. Arkoe was once one of the "busiest freight stops" in Nodaway County.[8]

Dr. Talbott Is Murdered

On September 18, 1880, Dr. Talbott was shot and killed at his home.[9] His wife, Belle, and his sons Charles Edward and Albert Perry, were initially suspected and arrested for his murder. Eventually, Belle was released and the sons were tried for their father's murder. Both were convicted and sentenced to hang. They were executed in the Beal Pasture (today Beal Park), on the east side of Maryville, on July 22, 1881. News accounts estimated the number of people present at the hanging at over 10,000. The Talbott brothers' hanging is said to have been the first "legal" hanging in Nodaway County. The Talbott brothers are buried in a private family cemetery a half mile west of Arkoe.[10][11] The tombstone marking their burial site reads, "We died inocent," with the word "innocent" misspelled on the headstone. Also carved into the stone are two hands clasped together as in a handshake.

A photo of the Talbott brothers' headstone is shown in Janet Hawley's publication, The Murder of Dr. Talbott, available through Accent Printing in Maryville, or through the Nodaway Historical Museum in Maryville. Genealogical information and more information concerning Dr. Talbott can be found at http://www.shoreheritage.com/gallery04.html.

Scott Snively Relocates

In 1893, after suffering the loss of his home and mercantile to a cyclone, Scott Snively decided to leave Nodaway County. His ranch home had burned in previous years, whereupon his wife Jane Elizabeth Grace (Irwin) and he had moved into Arkoe and built another house. The cyclone not only destroyed their new home and mercantile, but killed the man who helped in the continued operation of their ranch and care of their livestock there. Mr. Snively relocated his family to Sheridan, Wyoming where he took up ranching once again, becoming a well known breeder of sheep. While there he served as a constable and police judge of Sheridan, Wyoming and later served four terms in the Wyoming legislature, including holding the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in that state in 1907. Mr. Snively, after the death of his beloved wife Jane, relocated to Blockton, Missouri in 1923 where he remarried a successful businesswoman, Rachel Addie (Thompson) Cline. There he remained until his death. His body was returned to Sheridan, Wyoming to be interred next to his first wife. Mr. Snively was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in multiple regiments, being wounded three times. He was a commander in the Sheridan G.A.R., a thirty-second-degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the Elks Lodge.

Arkoe Today

Arkoe continues to exist as an incorporated town today. Its population has fluctuated considerably over the decades. All of the original businesses and business structures are gone, and only three houses from its early history remain. It is predominately a residential community, although some businesses do operate there, including a machine shop and three home-based ventures. The Church of Jesus Christ Restored is located in Arkoe. The town continues to operate under the governance of a five-member town board. Board member positions include Mayor, Commissioner, Road Commissioner, Secretary, and Treasurer. Each officer serves voluntarily for two-years, with three positions open for reelection in one voting term and two positions open in the next voting term. The offices are unpaid.

Arkoe Celebrates

On September 15, 1974 the Town of Arkoe celebrated its 100th birthday. A carry-in dinner was held at the Methodist Church building, which was still standing at that time, although not in regular use.

On September 13, 2014 the Town of Arkoe celebrates its 140th anniversary with a public gathering on the grounds of the church there.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 68 people, 23 households, and 16 families residing in the village. The population density was 485.7 inhabitants per square mile (187.5/km2). There were 27 housing units at an average density of 192.9 per square mile (74.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 100.0% White.

There were 23 households of which 52.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.50.

The median age in the village was 31.5 years. 39.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 7.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 58 people, 24 households, and 13 families residing in the town. The population density was 425.4 people per square mile (160.0/km²). There were 24 housing units at an average density of 176.0 per square mile (66.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.55% White, and 3.45% from two or more races.

There were 24 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 152.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 147.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,725. There were 14.3% of families and 14.3% of the population living below the poverty line, including 23.5% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

References

^ ab"US Gazetteer files 2010".

^ ab"American FactFinder".

^"Population Estimates".

^ ab"American FactFinder".

^"US Board on Geographic Names".

^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".

^http://arkoemissouri.blogspot.com

^ abWhere In The World Is Arkoe Missouri? (2014) by Susan Cronk

^"The Talbotts". Murder by Gaslight. Retrieved 2013-06-15.

^"Charles Edward Talbott". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2013-06-15.

^"Albert Perry Talbott". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2013-06-15.

^"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.

^"Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

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